Mission statement

OCZMA serves local elected officials on the Oregon Coast. OCZMA is a clearinghouse of objective information on issues relating to the Oregon Coast—this information is then shared with the state and federal government. OCZMA conducts studies on the Oregon Coast's economy and carries out applied research to improve the standard of living in the region. Through our extensive network of local government officials and many other partners, OCZMA gives voice to the concerns and needs of coastal residents.

Pioneer Mountain-Eddyville Modernization Project

Some OCZMA members serve on the ACTs that include coastal jurisdictions. These local leaders have a real impact on transportation investments made on the Oregon Coast. Two great examples are Lincoln County Commissioner Don Lindly and Nehalem Mayor Shirley Kalkhoven. Don Lindly is the Chair of CPACT, and, he’s very involved with CWACT (Cascades West Area Commission on Transportation) and other key ODOT committees.

On the North Coast, Mayor Shirley Kalkhoven is in NWACT (Northwest Area Commission on Transportation), CPACT and other ODOT Committees. The photo shows Lincoln County Commissioners Don Lindly (Chair of CPACT), Bill Hall (behind Don Lindly in glasses), and Terry Thompson (behind Congresswoman Darlene Hooley) at a groundbreaking ceremony for the modernization of Highway 20 on August 4, 2005. Other luminaries included Congresswoman Darlene Hooley and OTC Member Randy Pape, and Oregon State Representative Alan Brown, Newport (to the right of Darlene Hooley). Over 100 people attended the ceremony in Eddyville, Oregon.

The $140 million dollar project, one of the few and only new, major modernization projects in the state of Oregon happened because of the hard work of many people over many years.

The Pioneer Mountain-Eddyville highway improvement project is a true state-federal-local partnership. The ceremony on August 4, 2005 was the culmination of many years of hard work by many people. The project was the top priority on the Central Oregon Coast for a very long time. Straightening out those curves will save many lives and reduce travel time 10 to 15 minutes from Newport to Corvallis.

If you want to learn how to bring transportation improvements to your community, we recommend you get involved stay at it for the long haul. Oh, and make sure your community is totally on-board with the project you are seeking to make happen. Making these kind of significant projects happen takes a lot of teamwork.